Stop and direction indicator and tail-light attachment for road vehicles



Jan-1 Z, i925. LSBS E. READ STOP AND DIRECTION INDICATOR AND TAIL LIGHT ATTACHMENT' FOR ROAD VFHIGLIISv Filed Julyl 22. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet l ..."...Awq

Jan. 20,v 1925. 3,523,738

E. READ STOP AND DIRECTION INDICATOR AND TAIL LIGHT ATTACHMENTFOR ROAD VEHICLES Filed July 22, 1922 4 sheets-sheet 2- Jan, 2, 1925.

E. READ STOP AND-DIRECTION INDICATOR AND TAIL LIGHT ATTACIIMPGT FOR ROAD VEHICLES Filed July 22, 1922 4 Sheefcs-Sheet 3 fila i. Il, IIIHHL- jam. 29, 11925. 1,523,7l8

E. READ STOP AND DIRECTION INDICATOR'AND TAIL LIGHT ATTACHMENT FOR ROAD VEHICLES Filed July 22. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z! Z5 Z5 Patented .lain 20, lSZS,

EDIVOND READ, Ofc". SYDNEY, USTBALEA.

STOP -AND DIRECTION NDXCAT'OR AND TfiL-LG-.T ATTACHMENTUFOR ROAD liVEHICLES.

Application filed July 22,

To all/whomt'fmcy/ cof/wcm:

Be it known that I,EDMOND READ, subject'o'i the King ot Great Britainani'l`r lreland, residing atl Dalton-llouse,v 115 Pitt Street, Sydney, in the county ot Cumberland and State of New South 1Wales, Australia, have invented certain new and useful v'lmprovcments in Stop and Direction indicators and 'lailliight Attachments forl Road IVehicles, oi" which' the following is specilication.

'lhis invention relates to devices associated with a road vehicle tail light for the purpose ol' indicating byA semaphore signals, the intended action of the driver of the vehicle in stopping, slowing, or turning to lett or right as the case may be. The Adevice is operated by a control located within reach of the driver tor enabling him to cause a movement of the semaphore to olfer the necessary indication to following vehicles, and the apparatus is characterized in that it includes automat-ic means 'for restoring the semaphore to neutral (invisible) position after a predetermined period following Voperation of lthe manual control; this period beingl determined according to the number et seconds judged necessary to allow oi' the movement ol the vehicle to be pert'orined after the control has been operatedn Electrical and mechanicaly parts associated -with the semaphore device are contained in a casing` enclosed in a hemisl'iherical sector ot it and glazed to exhibit the movement of the semaphore arm within it. The usual red tail light. is disposed below the centre of the sector, and above the registration number plate, said plate being ilhuninated by light reflected downward Ytreni a lamp within the casing, which lamp serves at once to offer illumination tor the semaphore case and tor the red signal. The mechanism consist-s or" electro-magnetic devices for moving` the semaphore, tor locking it for a predetermined period in any position to which it is brought by the electro-magnetic action, and `for releasing it and returning it automatic-ally to neutral position, in which position it is secreted by an opaque portion of the easing so that the glazed sector appears clear during normal running of the car on a` straight course. For the electro-mechanical vcontrol device which is preferably used, .a mechanical control device may be substituted performing substantially the same Jfunctions 1922. serial No. 576,657.

and operated through a Bowden wire control by a hand lever.

kIn the accompanying drawings,-

Fig. l is a front elevational View showing the external appearance ot' the indicator device complete, a small portion otthe casing being shown broken to indieatethe resting of the semaphore arm on a stopwhilst it is in neutral position;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2M? Fig. l, in the. direction ot' the arrow thereon Fior. 3 is an incomplete longitudinal sectional elevation on the plane 3-3 fF-ig. 2 1n the direct on ot the `arrow thereon;

`Fig. il is a horizontal section on the line l-l, Fig'. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section on the line 5 5 Fig. Ll;

Fig. 6 is an external viewoitthel lcasing containing a' push button and contact spring assembly g Fig. shows sectional views'ol the detail of the spring Contact arrangements which are associated with threev push buttons marked 'for Right yStop or Slowl and Lett, respectively Fig. 8 is a semi-diagrammatic view explan- 4atory of the elec-tric circuits in thetype ot the apparatus in which operation is 'byelectro-mechanical means;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary verticallsectional elevation illustrative of the mechanism used when a wholly mechanical control device is is used instead ot an electro-mechanical control device, shown in previous lign res; and

Fig. l0 is a sectional elevational view showthe Bowden wire control arrangement associated with the mechsfinieal equipment il.- lustrated in Fig. 9.

The housing of the indicator' coniprises a back plate 20, a brachetl below-same to carry the registration number plate 22, a semi-circular casing 23, a semi-circular glazed trent 24 in saine, and a corresl'ionding Jfalse Afront :'25, also glazed, rearward ot the front 2-1; and offering a cell space: t'orward oi it, to accommodate a semaphore signal arm, a red disc or lens 26 forming the tail light, and an opaque diaphragm 2T behind which the electrical. and mechanical mechanism is located, said mechanism being supported on the back plate 20. A lamp 2S fixed be tween the` diaphragm 2T and the 'false *Front Rea-rward et the plate 2O a control llt) switch 29 is mounted, and there may also be fitted on the back of the board 20 a gong bell 30, said bell being actuated at each operation of the mechanism to direct attention of persons behind the car to to the fact that the semaphore has been moved to give an `indication of which notice should be taken. In the cell between the main. front 24 and the false front 25 a semaphore arm 31 is located. It is carried on a spider 32, the hub of which is fixed to a spindle 33 rotatable in a bearing 34 supported on the back plate 29, and by the diaphragm 27 also if necessary. The electrical circuits are arranged to maintain the lamp 28 illuminated under all circumstances whilst the switch 29V is closed. T he light from the lamp 28 illuminates the tail light 26 and also illuminates the face of the number plate 22; for the latter purpose a vent being provided in the lower portion of the casing above the number plate.

y Referring to Figs. 6 and 7. The control device (Fig. 6) is fixed on the steering head or post or on the dash board of the vehicle. lt contains three push buttonsy allocated respectively to fR (right) S (stop or slow) and L (left), these butto-ns being numbered respectively' 35, 36, and 37, the button 35 is adapted to close two circuits throughthe contact springs 38 and 39 and the fixed Contact 39X; the button 36 to close three circuits through the contact springs 40, 41 and 42 and 39X, and the button 37 to close three circuits through the contact springs 43, 44, 45 and 39X. The cable 46 containing the insulated wires yfrom each of these contacts is led to the indicator' preferably through an armoured casing to protect it from chafing.

The electrical equipment in the indicator comprises a solenoid 47, a solenoid 48 fitted with a retiring spring 49 and a tension adjusting device 50, a locking magnet 51, and two control magnets 52 and V53. These several solenoids and electromagnets are circuited to the respective contacts 38 to 45 as shown in Fig. 8, a battery being included in the circuit as also is the lamp 28 with its switch 29 and the gong bell 30. The bell 30 is in the common return circuit of the several contacts and is therefore operated when any one Vof the contact sets is closed. Thesolenoids 47 and 48 acting oppositely through au oscillating beam 69 are balanced against throw of their plungers in either direction due to jolting or vibration yof the vehicle.

Upon the spindle 33 a spur wheel 55 is keyed. This wheel gears witha rack 56 on a slider' rod 57. This rod is movable axially in bearings 58 and is normally moved to the left by means of a helical spring 59 when the electro-magnetic controls are not operating. ri`he teeth of the gear are engageable by the catch 60 on the armature 61 of the electroger carries the armature of the solenoid 48 on its right hand end, and at its .left hand end is provided with a toe piece 66 which is engageable with checks on ends of the armatures 67 and 68 of the electro-magnets 52 and 53 respectively. A rocking beam 69 mounted on a pivot 7 Oengages the lock plunger 65 by apin and slot connection 71, and similarly engages an extension 72 of the armature of the solenoid 47. At its top end the lever 69 is formed with a nger 73 accommodated in a `slot 74 in a pisto-n rod 75 having a piston Z6-at lits distant end, saidpiston working in a dash pot solenoid 77. The forward end of the piston rod 75 carries a sliding contact 78 engageable with the contact shoe 79 which is connected into the circuit as shown in F ig.`8. Behind the piston 76 is a spring 8O which is tensioned to push the piston inward to its extreme position shown in Fig. The

solenoid 77 is provided with an air leak hole 81 in its side andwith an air bleeder hole 82 in the rear end of it, the area of the bleeder controlled by a cone pin adjustment 83; 84 being a check valve arranged to freely admit air during the forward stroke ofthe piston,fin which movement the spring 8O is compressed by the inflowing air.

The operation of the parts may no-w be described.

A branch 92 from a tap on the winding of the electro-magnet .51 passesthrough the lamp 28 and the switch 29 to the negative side of the battery at 93, Vthe line 91 from the positive side of the battery 94 completing the lamp circuit for night use. n As shown in Fig. 8, the stop or slow button 36 has been depressed, thereby closing together the contact springs 40, 4l and 42 with the fixed contact 39X. A circuit is thus established on the one side through a common line 90'which is branched to the shoe 79 and toV the Y winding of the electromagnet 51.

On the forward side the contact springs complete the following circuits from the common wire 90. Firstly, a circuit through the multiple line'95 tothe point 96, whence one circuit goes through the bell 30 to the battery positive at 94. From the point 96 also comes acircuitvincluding'the windings ofthe solenoids 47 and 48 in parallel, Vthence from the negative side of the battery 54 through the common line 97 to the centre spring 4l. `The circuit through the spring 42 goes by the line 98 to the winding of the slow control magnet 53, and thence by the line 99 to the positive terminal 94 of the battery A54. The effect obtained', therefore, by the closing of the three springs 10, 411 and L12 on their fixed contact 39X isto operate the solenoids -ll' and 18, to Amove the piston 76 outward and compress the spring 80, and to bring the contact 78 beyond the shoe 79. The magnet 523 meantime operates to throw its armature (38 to bring its-check to the locking position in which it engages and stops the moven'ient of the r loclt rod 65 by engaging it. A movement of the required range is thus imparted through the linger (S3 to the rack 5G, and through it to the spur wheel 55 and the semaphore arm 31. The rotational movement applied to the spindle 83 is that required to bring the semaphore arm to the middle or stop position (see Fig. 1). Movement ofthe spur wheel 55 is permitted because whilst current is passing, the magnet 51 is actuated to withdraw the armature lock froml said wheel. lmmediately the button S6 is released, the spring 62 operates to throw the lock armature 61 yforward and engage the wheel 55. thus to hold the semaphore arm in the stop position. Upon the release of the control buttonB/o", the circuits through Vthe nnignet 5o and the solenoids 47 and 48 are also broken, and lthe lock rod G5 is moved mechanically bythe-spring 80. The movement is rapid until the piston covers the air leak hole 81; thereafter' it is a slow movement depending upon the adjustment of the screw 83. This screw may be set to allow any required number of seconds, say five to ten, to elapse between the time the pistou 76 covers the hole 81 and the time at which it has moved back suliiciently to Contact the spring` 78 with the shoe T9. iVhen this contact occurs, a circuit is established from the negative terminal 93 of the battery, the floating line 100 and the line 1.01., to the winding ofthe magnet 51. When that circuit is closed. the lock armature (S1 is withdrawn, and the spring operates rapidly then to move the rack 56 and to turn the semaphore arm back to neutral position, in which it is hidden from view. For the right position of the semaphore arm, the lock bar 65 moves to its extreme position. For the left indication the lock bar 65 is engaged by the armature 67 of the magnet 52. The circuit arrangement for each of the three positions may be followed readily from the diagram in Fig. 8, in view of the explanation given already in relation to the stop position operation.

ln the operation Iof each button respectively, the alarm gong 30 is sounded and the semaphore is moved to the required indicating position, and it remains in that position for a predetermined time after the finger pressure on the operating button has been released. At the termination of the allocated period, the sei'naphore arm drops back to neutral position automatically. #During-night .opel-ation, when the switch 29 isvclosed, the lamp 2S lis: kept illuminated continuously, with the resultthat red light is displayed at26 and the registration :number is illuminated.

ln the'mechanical device (Figs. 9 and 10) they external: appearance ofthe tail fitting corresponds with that shown inFig. 1. rllhe plunger 5T is mounted to slide endwise in guides'58, as before, under control of a spring-59, which operates to normally pull it to-the left.A The rack 58 engages the spur wheel 55, as before, to operate the `semaphore arm 31, which is lined on its spindle 13. rthe control device is a hand lever 131 moved over a sector guide 182.y this guideabeingr marked for three positions, as in the easer of the electrical arrangement R, S, and L. There is also an idle position, which is the release position, in which the leverlll is shown in full lines; its adj usted position for the R, S and L operations being indicated in dotted lines. T he hand lever 131 is on the head of an arm 102to which arm theiend of a Bowden wire 103 is connected,-104 being the armoured casing` of said wire. The distant end of the Bowden wire is fitted as usualr in a socket carrier 105, the cord terminal 106 being fixed in an end nob 107 within a tube 108 slidable within a tubular casingl guide 10Q, said guide being slotted at 110 to accon'imodate an arm 111 fixed in the tube 10S. The arm 111 passes through a slot 112 in the rack rod a?. On its lower end, the arnrlll carries a frictional shioe 113 carried on an armr 1111. which arm is pressed downward by a Aspring` 115 so that the shoe 113 is held in frictional contact with a light slide` rod 116; said rod is pivotally connected at 11T to a lock lever 111%. the head 119 of which is bent to engage the teeth of the wheel Whilst the semaphore arm is set the loci: 118 is held engaged with the wheelV by the leaf spring 120. Thel dash potcylinder 121. which corresponds functionally with the dash pot-control arrangement shown in tl electrical arrangement in the previous figures. has its piston 122 normally forced outward by the spring 123. The cylinder 121 is provided with an air leak hole 124 corresoondingl with the hole 81 in previous figures. and also with controllable bleeder and valve as shown as 153/1, this last part correspondingi` structurally and functionally with the similar part shown in Fig. The tail rod 125 of the piston 122 is arranged to strike the lock 118 when the piston has just reached the end of its active stroke. The. piston rod 125 is slotted as shown at 127, the slot 12T straddling the arm 111.

The operation is as follows As shown in Fig'. 9, the parts are in idle position with the semaphore arm in neutral. Assuming that the hand lever 181 is moved to the S (slow or stop) position, the head 107 of they Bowden wire is moved to draw. out the slide tube 108 a predetermined amount. In this Voutward movement the finger 111 is moved with it, and the pisto-n 122 is drawn backward, compressing Athe spring 123. Immediately Vthe tail rod 125 leaves the lock 118 the lock would engage the wheel were it not that the shoe 113 acting on the friction rod 116 pulls the stop 118 out, thus leaving the wheel free to be rotated by the rack 58 and the semaphore arm to be swung round to the vertical position, which corresponds with the range of movement applied through the Bowden wire to the slide tube 108. rI `he signal will remain in the set position until the hand lever 131 has been thrown back to the idle position as shown in Fig. 10, the slot 127 permitting this reverse movement without immediately causing the rod 57 to be moved by the spring 59. Immediately the negative movement is commenced, the shoe 113 moving in contact with the friction rod 116, acts to throw in the lock 118, thereby engaging the wheel 55 and holding the semaphore arm in the position tol which it was brought by the positive movement of the control lever 131. At the saine time the piston 122 is 'l freed, and commences to move forward under the pressure of the spring 123, the slot 127 in the piston rod permitting this movement. The movement of the piston is rapid, as before, until it covers the leak hole 124A` and thereafter it is slow according to the set of the bleeder valve. When it reaches the end of its stroke, its tail rod, striking the rod 118, releases the lock, whereupon the spring 59 acts to move the rack bar 57 and through it to turn the wheel 55 and bring the semaphore arm to the idle position.

' The provision of the leak hole in the dash pot cylinder procures operation of the dash pot arrangement so that, irrespectively of the control operation, substantially the same period of pause is allowed at every position before the resetting movement of the semaphore arm takes pla-ce, andin each case the resetting movement is rapid, the object-bev ing thus attained of bringing the semaphore arm to a set position to indicate the drivers intention, to hold it there a predetermined number of seconds, and to allow it at the end;

kept closed continuously or the handY lever K 131 held on a set position. The hand lever 131 is arranged to comeback to idle position as shown in full lines Fig. 10byl the tension of the Bowden wire spring." The duty of the driver therefore consists only. in momentarily bringing the control to the appropriate position, `or in momentarily press` ing the appropriate button according asthe equipment is mechanical or electro-mechanical respectively. Y 'Y Vihat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a vehicle direction indicator, a pointer, means for moving said `po-inter to a plurality of positions, means forlatching the same in any of said positions and means forV means and additionalmeans, including aV portion of said releasing means, for releasing said latch Ameans operable a predetermined timeV after said pointer has been moved to a selected position. Y

In testimony whereof IY affix my signature.

EDMOND READ.Y 

